1. How much has the increase in carbon dioxide levels contributed
to feeding the world so far?
2. What is it likely to contribute in future?
3. How much of this benefit will be lost if the carbon dioxide
increase is slowed or halted?

At issue is something called the Greening Theory. This is the concept that an increase in CO2 levels will lead
to increased plant growth, because CO2 is the food of plants.
This growth response is called the greening effect.

The Greening Theory has been pretty well confirmed. In fact the
Clinton administration is asking for several hundred million dollars
for "sequestration" research next year, much of it by the Department
of Agriculture.This research will look at how changes in farming
practices might cause plants to remove more CO2 from the air by
growing more. The practice of sequestration assumes the truth
of the Greening Theory.

But the U.S. government, as well as the United Nations, does not
want to admit the beneficial implication of the Greening Theory:
It is likely that some part of the world's incredible ability
to feed itself over the past few decades, despite enormous population
growth, is due to the increase in CO2 in the air. If this is true
then it is likely just as true that a continued increase in CO2
will be needed to continue feeding the world, for the population
is still growing rapidly.

The United States, and the United Nations, have taken the position
that increasing CO2 levels are dangerous and must be stopped.
But given the greening theory it might be even more dangerous
to do this, because it could lead to mass starvation in the poorer
countries of the worlds, where most people live. The U.S. and
UN appear to be ducking this incredibly important issue because
they have already made up their minds what they want to do.

On these pages we will explain this issue in more detail, including
a sample greening effect analysis for Bangladesh, and provide
links to other resources for further information and research.
Detailed information regarding regional and national crop yields
and use of agricultural technologies is available from the United
Nation Food and Agriculture Organization.

FAO also provides an extensive online statistical database: FAOSTAT. The FAOSTAT database contains over 1 million time series records
covering over 210 countries and territories and 3,000 items in
the areas of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Nutrition.